July 21, 2006

Sammy Died Today

Our little diabetic dog Sammy died suddenly today. When I let him out of his crate this morning, I could tell he was not doing well. But I had no idea how the day would unfold.

He had left some food in his automated pet feeder overnight, which was unusual. (We set up this feeder so he could have small amounts of food throughout the night, which helped keep him better regulated). Then, as he walked around the yard, I noticed he seemed disoriented, and he would sometimes shuffle from side-to-side, and other times stagger for a few steps before righting himself.

I took him into the house for his morning insulin shots and his breakfast, and although he sat still for his injections, he had no interest in eating. Usually he would do a whirling dervish-type dance while I got his breakfast ready, then wolf it down. Indeed, that's how he was last night -- just his usual, energetic little self. Not this morning. Something was definitely wrong.

It looked to us like he was crashing again, and we had seen this before. Several weeks ago Sammy had experienced the 'Somogyi effect,' when the body rapidly fluctuates between low blood sugar and high blood sugar. The wild glucose swings are too much for the body to handle, and it requires immediate medical attention.

Thinking that was what Sammy was going through again, I called our internal medicine specialist in Helena, Dr. Britt Culver, and said I was rushing Sammy into the clinic. I took this photo just before Sammy and I hit the road. By the time I arrived at the clinic, Sammy was motionless in his crate in the back seat. I pulled on his leg to try and get him to turn around, but he wouldn't budge. There was no resistance in his leg. I called to him, then reached in and pulled him towards me, and finally he started to stir.

I carried him into the clinic in my arms. Britt's colleague, Dr. Jennifer Rockwell, was waiting for us. I told Deana, the vet tech who took Sammy from me, "He needs help now. He's in bad shape." She said, "I know, they're ready for him," and she turned to take Sammy to the medical suite in the back. It was the last time I saw Sammy alive.

A few minutes later Deana returned and said Sammy had a temperature of 107 degrees and they were putting an IV in him to get fluids and antibiotics on board. Oddly, his glucose level was 116, which is right in the normal range. That was puzzling. Jennifer was also taking an X-ray to see how his chest looked. I knew a fever that high was potentially life-threatening, but I was still thinking we were dealing with a diabetes issue.

A short while later I was in the truck, ready to run some errands in Helena, when Deana came running out and asked me to wait. She said, "Jennifer wants you to stay around because it's not going well." Ohmigod. I suddenly got a pit in my stomach. I pulled the truck back into the parking lot and headed inside. I could feel the tears coming. Damn it.

When I walked in, Deana had just come back out from the medical suite and told me Jennifer was doing CPR on Sammy. I was dumbfounded. "CPR?", I asked, not sure I heard her correctly, or more likely just hoping I had misunderstood her. Yes, CPR. I stared at the wall, my mind just spinning, while I tried to process that information.

I went into an exam room, closed the door and sat down. Less than three minutes later, Jennifer walked in and said, "We lost him." I was incredulous. "Lost him to what?," I asked. Jennifer said, "I don't know."

By this time, of course, I was a wreck and in tears. Jennifer picked up a Kleenex box and handed it to me, then tried to comfort me. I held my head in my hands and cried. I just couldn't believe this little character -- who was with us for all of three months -- was dead. Sammy had spent almost half that time in the hospital.

Jennifer asked if we wanted to do an autopsy to find out what happened, and which might also help explain why his diabetes had been so difficult to regulate. I said yes.

Another vet tech, Jayme, brought Sammy into the exam room so I could be with him for a while. He was lying in a small white cardboard coffin, his head propped up on a rolled-up towel. I kissed his little face and told him how sorry I was, and that we would always love him.

This photo is how we will always remember him, as a spark of life. He was cute, playful, and energetic.

Here's a link to a blog posting with a video of Sammy I made about a month after he arrived, when he seemed to be stable and we had high hopes for him. I posted this just before he began making repeated trips to the hospital for his diabetes. He came home from the hospital for the last time on June 30th, when I posted this item.

Steve and Alayne...I'm so so sorry to hear about Sammy. I can't stop crying! I KNOW what it is like to lose one of our beloved pets so suddenly!! I glad I was able to bring him home to you guys and was able to spend that hour with him. He was so sweet!! He had only just met me and he sat on my lap all the way to the ranch!! He will be missed but not forgotten!!!

I read this posting Sunday and shed tears with you, Steve. I'm so sorry to learn of Sammy's passing. My thoughts and healing prayers are entended to you, Alayne and everyone at the ranch.
I can see by your video and pictures of Sammy that this sparky little guy will be missed every day.
Love and support to you always....
Leilani

I am deeply saddened to hear of Sammy's untimely death. My heart goes out to you all at the ranch. You did everything possible to give him a new lease on life....he knew he was loved and cared for! Those precious photos attest to that.

We are so saddened to read about Sammy. Our hearts go out to you during this sad time of loss in your lives. Please take comfort in knowing you gave him a wonderful life at RDR with so much love & the very best of care. You did all you could for him & he was so happy with you.
Hugs of comfort,
ginger & Tobias

Steve - Sammy's body may be gone, but he will live forever, and not just in your heart and Alayne's. The words and photos you've published here have given him life in the hearts of all of us who read the blog and who shed tears for him although we never met him.

Hey guys, I was so sad to hear of Sammys death. It just brought tears to my eyes, (I wanted to downright sob my eyes out but hard to do while sitting at the library computer). My heart goes out to you. What a shock. I send you much light and love to all the animals and people that will miss that sweet little bundle of love.

Steve and Alayne,
I, too, am so sad to learn that Sammy died. Please accept my sympathy. You gave him so much love and I know he had to feel so lucky about that. He was such a cute dog and I'll remember him in the photo with his red toy.

I, like most of your other readers have tears streaming down my face this morning...I am so sorry. What a beautiful little guy, he was such a happy guy, and you did everything you could possibly do for him. His last few months were blessed with love and caring what more could a little dog want or need. My thoughts are with you.

Oh Steve and Alayne, I'm so sorry. You worked so hard to get Sammy stablized and healthy. I know he understood you were trying to help him and appreciated your good care and love. I'm glad you have the cute, bright-eyed photos to remind you of the dog he would have been if he hadn't had insurmountable medical problems. Maybe the necropsy will help you, the vets and other animals in the future if you ever have to deal with such a puzzling problem again.

Oh no, not sweet Sammy! I'm in tears even as I write this. My heart hurts for you and Alayne, and for poor little Sammy who never could get on top of all his health things. Bless his little sweet heart, I'm so glad he had so much love at the Ranch, even if it was for a short time. He'll be waiting at the Rainbow Bridge with the others.

OMG! I'm sitting here at work dripping tears all over the place. How terribly sad for you. I do some volunteer work with a rescue group and it doesn't matter how long I've fostered a kitty, when one dies it breaks your heart. I KNOW nothing can take the pain in your heart away it has to come out when you're ready but everyone around you and everyone out here reading your blog KNOWS big time how well Sammy was taken care of and how much Sammy was loved. He may have had just a few months with you but they were happy loving months and you did your very best with him. Thank you for that. With deepest sympathy.

We are so terribly saddened to learn of Sammys death. We can't understand why he was called from this earth so soon, but we know that he is now a healthy, happy lil Angel "rolling" all throught the fields of Dog Heaven with all those who have passed before him. You gave him hope, care, and a little more time, to experience being loved unconditionally. We hope his little spirit is forever joyful now! Barbara & Joe Arenal